Bosch registers record number of patents

Last year, Bosch researchers and developers registered more patents than ever before, according to the manufacturer.

The number of first-filed patents rose by seven percent to a total of 3,281, including 569 in the United States. This adds up to an average of 14 developments submitted to the patent offices every working day. However, not every Bosch innovation is automatically registered as a patent. The number of inventions registered within the company in 2007 actually rose by 8 percent, to 6,560, but only Bosch developments that the company feels are sufficiently significant are registered with patent offices.

In total, the current number of patents, patent registrations, and utility models held by the Bosch Group amounts to around 77,000. "These figures are impressive evidence of the innovative strength of the Bosch Group", says Dr. Siegfried Dais, whose responsibilities as deputy chairman of the board of management include research and development. "We are fortunate to be able to maintain a strong focus on innovation and development during a weak economy, emerging an even stronger company when the economy recovers."

In the past year, Bosch increased its expenditure on research and development by 9 percent to $4.9 billion. Investment in this field accounted for just under 8 percent of the company's sales of roughly 46 billion euros (over $63 billion). A total of roughly 30,000 associates work in research and development worldwide. 2007 patents included antilock braking and fuel-injection systems, auto electronics, starters, and alternators.

For more information on the company, visit www.boschusa.com.